Survey: Australians, Americans and Climate Change

A major survey on Australian attitudes to climate change compared with those of Americans showing that climate change is a “wedge” issue in both countries.

Professor Simon Jackman said the survey results showed that climate change is a “wedge” issue in both countries, but the Rudd government has bigger incentives than the Obama administration to pass legislation because Australians are on average greener than Americans.“The partisan divide on climate change is big in Australia but even bigger in the US”, said Professor Jackman. He added “The centre-right hold views on climate change that are at odds with mainstream opinion in both countries, but Americans are just less committed to fighting climate change than Australians”.

Simon Jackman commenced as CEO of the US Studies Centre in April 2016. He was previously a Professor of Political Science and Statistics at Stanford University. Jackman's teaching and research centres on public opinion, election campaigns, political participation, and electoral systems with special emphasis on American and Australian politics.

Professor Geoffrey Garrett

Dean, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Geoffrey Garrett was the founding CEO of the US Studies Centre. Garrett is Dean, Reliance Professor of Management and Private Enterprise, and Professor of Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, he has been the Dean of the Business Schools at both the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales.

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